Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Rocester
Romans beaten
Rocester
came to the Moat Ground with a makeshift side but put up a decent attempt to
block out Gresley on a blustery Saturday afternoon.
Romans manager Martyn Smith had to play Mick Ede, their usual centre half,
in goal as he struggled with the loss of six players from his squad. The league
had rejected the Romans' attempt to sign a keeper on loan.
John McGinlay had hinted that he might try a different strike force and he
again played Barry Woolley up front in an attempt to breach what he knew would
be a stubborn defence.
On eight minutes Gresley almost took the lead. Andy Bourne found Chris Gray
in space but Gray's shot flew just inches wide.
Stand-in keeper Ede did well to hold a fierce shot by Ian Bluck from the edge
of the area after a one-two with Bourne.
With Rocester creating nothing at all Gresley began to apply pressure and on
20 minutes took the lead.
Steve Coates played a superb ball to Andy Cheetham who raced down the left
and from the bye-line cut the ball back to Chris White who crashed the ball
past Ede and into the bottom corner.
On 23 minutes Gresley almost doubled their lead when Stuart Evans flicked on
a corner and Coates managed to get his foot to the ball but saw his effort come
back off the inside of the post and away to safety.
Gray assisted Bourne who should have scored against his old club but could
only put his shot wide of the post.
With
Gresley having nearly all of the possession it looked as if it would be only
a matter of time before they increased their lead, but a bizarre bit of goalkeeping
allowed there largely negative opponents back into the game.
Gresley fans have surely had their fair share of "strange" goals
at the Moat Ground this season but this one must rank up there with the worst.
James Lindley had nothing to do during the first half and it was possibly this
inactivity that caused a lapse of concentration that led to the Romans undeserved
equaliser.
Rocester defender Nick Anthony sent another of their regular up-and-under's
out of defence and down the pitch. As Evans went to head clear the ball he left
it for Lindley. The Gresley keeper then somehow semi-cleared the ball which
hit the leg of Roman's striker Steve Taaffe and to everyone's utter amazement
sailed over Lindley's head and into the empty net.
To be honest, that was the only threat Rocester posed all game as they seemed
to run out of any creative ideas if indeed they had any in the first place.
On 52 minutes Gray put Dave Whittaker through but the striker could only fire
disappointingly wide with Ede nowhere.
A couple of minutes later Cheetham put Woolley through and with only the keeper
to beat the big defender wrongly chose to put a square ball to Whittaker who
again failed to get his shot on target.
On 65 minutes Gresley took a deserved lead again. Aidan Callan swung in a corner
and it fell to the grateful Woolley who rammed in his 12th goal of the season.
On 70 minutes Woolley had a very similar chance to further increase Gresley's
lead. Callan again floated in a corner but this time he put the ball wide of
the post.
McGinaly
replaced Bourne and Whittaker with Richard Wardle and Chris Parkins on 66 minutes.
Cheetham again provided a long ball to Callan but his lob sailed over the bar
with the Rocester keeper again struggling to get back.
On 83 minutes Woolley almost doubled his tally when he fired across the goal,
but the ball rebounded off the post and into the path of White who put his shot
over the bar.
Two minutes later Parkins should have wrapped the game up when he ran onto
a Callan through ball but he put his shot wide. Then, with the game almost up,
Parkins had another gilt edged chance. Cheetham's long ball had been only half
cleared and Parkins collected the ball and raced towards goal but instead of
going on to beat Ede he chose to lob the keeper but ended up with it sailing
well over the bar.
This had been a hard fought battle against a side fighting for their lives
and determined to pack their defence without taking any chances up front.
Gresley had the majority of possession and all the chances and need as McGinaly
said, "to learn to break down these sort of sides"
Still, it was three points gained on a day when they didn't play well which
is the hallmark of a side who are hard to beat and it takes Gresley to fifth
in the league.
The manager's view of the game
"I'm not making excuses for the team but the conditions didn't allow you
to play good football. Any football that there was to be played we tried to
play it.
"We over hit that ball at times and in the second half alone we had 4
or 5 good clear chances but we didn't take them.
"Overall I wasn't happy with the performance. It is three points but I
would have liked a little bit more. I don't think they've played that well over
the last two games. When you make chances you have to take them. Against a good
side towards the top of the table it may have been different toady because you
might only get one chance and you have to take it.
"We made it hard for ourselves but credit to Rocester, They came here
with a patched up team and they've given a good account of themselves.
"The goal we gave away was ridiculous. I had a go at James at half time.
To be honest I had a go at them all at half time because we had shot ourselves
in the foot.
"James has not had a save to make in the whole game and to give a goal
away like that gives them hope. All of a sudden they have their tails up. I
suppose it's James's first game back, but he needs to be a lot sharper. He looked
sluggish when he came off his line and some of his passing from the back was
not assured. He's got to work at it, but it's not a problem and he knows it.
"We put out an attacking side today and started with three up front and
I don't think they got a great service overall in the game. It was all bits
and bobs here and there. But in saying that Barry Woolley has got a goal and
it's three valuable points.
"I've just said to them that people have been left out and there is competition
for places. It doesn't worry me if I have to make changes and I don't mind who
I have to leave out because I will put the best team out on the park that I
think will do well on the day. If I have to upset people that's the way it goes.
No one is guaranteed a place.
"Chris White took his goal well. To be honest since he's come to the club
he's impressed me with his attitude. He's hungry to score goals and he's a good
player. There is a lot of potential with Chris White and there's a lot more
to come from him. I had a good chat with him last week about next season. I
told him he's got to work hard and there will be times when he's not in the
side because he's still learning the game. He may have to go back into the reserves
for a few games but that's fine. At present he's in the first team and he's
scoring goals regularly and I think he looks a threat, He's got some nice touches,
he's aware of the game and he has a good attitude.
"Stuart Evans had to come off because he'd twisted his ankle and we'll
have to see how he is for Cinderford. Everyone else is fine, but Chris Parkins
is unsure for Tuesday due to work commitments. Jake - I don't know. We could
do with him back but when he does it will take him a few games to get match
fit that's once his injury is sorted out.
"We have some big games coming up against sides that are around us in
the league. These are important games because if we can take points off them
it will help consolidate our position in the league.
"Rocester have been a bit of a bogey side for us and we hadn't beaten
them since I've been with the club. So it's nice to put that one to rest."
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Rocester (1) 1
Scorers: White 20, Woolley 65 (Gresley Rovers); Taaffe 36 (Rocester).
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck, Cheetham, Callan, Woolley, Evans (Peters
90), Bourne (Wardle 66), Coates, Whittaker (Parkins 66), White, Gray.
Rocester: M Ede, P Ede, Anthony (Colclough 70), Skelton, Wade, Leadbeater,
Bratt (Griffin 71), Fletcher, Taaffe, Walklet, Owen. Sub not used: Smith.
Rovers
Star Man: Andy Cheetham - worked hard to create openings.
Referee: R Burton (Kettering).
Attendance: 358
